ASTM International

Standard Test Method for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Cure Behavior
 N D4473

Annotation

This test method covers the use of dynamic-mechanicaloscillation instrumentation for gathering and reporting the thermal advancement of cure behavior of thermosetting resin. It may be used for determining the cure properties of both unsupported resins and resins supported on substrates subjected to various oscillatory deformations.

This test method is intended to provide a means for determining the cure behavior of supported and unsupported thermosetting resins over a range of temperatures by free vibration as well as resonant and nonresonant forced-vibration techniques, in accordance with Practice D 4065. Plots of modulus, tan delta, and damping index as a function of time/temperature are indicative of the thermal advancement or cure characteristics of a resin.

This test method is valid for a wide range of frequencies, typically from 0.01 to 100 Hz. However, it is strongly recommended that low-frequency test conditions, generally below 1.5 Hz, be utilized as they generally will result in more definitive cure-behavior information.

This test method is intended for resin/substrate composites that have an uncured effective elastic modulus in shear greater than 0.5 MPa.

Apparent discrepancies may arise in results obtained under differing experimental conditions. These apparent differences from results observed in another study can usually be reconciled, without changing the observed data, by reporting in full (as described in this test method) the conditions under which the data were obtained.

Due to possible instrumentation compliance, especially in the compressive mode, the data generated may indicate relative and not necessarily absolute property values.